What was the Lusitania and why was it so important?

Answer 1

From the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

The Lusitania was a British ocean liner sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. The British Admiralty had warned the Lusitania to avoid the area and to use the evasive tactic of zigzagging, but the crew ignored these recommendations. Though unarmed, the ship was carrying munitions for the Allies, and the Germans had circulated warnings that the ship would be sunk. The loss of life - 1,198 people drowned, including 128 U.S. citizens - outraged public opinion. The U.S. protested Germany's action, and Germany limited its submarine campaign against Britain. When Germany renewed unrestricted submarine warfare, the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917.

Answer 2

The sinking of the Lusitania was so important because it was the last straw for the U.S. WWI was started for a few reasons: first, because the archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated when he was in Serbia. This made everyone so mad, it lighted the"Balkan powder keg". At first, the U.S. was neutral in the war. After the Lusitania, though, the U.S jumped in the war because the Lusitania was a American ship and we don't play around when other countries blow up our ship. Finally, after many casualties, we won the war.

Answer 3

Germany, being part of the Central Powers and at war with Great Britain, had set up a blockade around Britain. While a cruise ship called Lusitania was going from America to Britain, German submarines spotted it, and although it was only legal for the ships to be searched, German U-boats simply torpedoed the Lusitania, killing 128 Americans and over 1,000 passengers in total who were on the cruise ship. Although it is true that Germany sent a warning to America and Germany had suspicions supplies were hidden in the Lusitania (to help Britain), it enraged Americans so much that the Propaganda produced by this made anti-German sentiments reach their peak and in 1917, America declared on Germany and entered World War 1 on the side of the Ally Powers. The Lusitania was important because it was the final factor that influenced America to declare War on Germany and enter WW1.

Answer 4

The Lusitania was a ship of significance to WW1. It was a British liner and had carried Americans. It had been hit by German U-boats or Unterseeboot. (meaning "underwater boat") The Germans had be usingunrestricted submarine warfare when the hit the Lusitania. Without the event of the sinking, the Sussex Pledge would never have been made.

Germany, being part of the Central Powers and at war with Great Britain, had set up a blockade around Britain. While a cruise ship called Lusitania was going from America to Britain, German submarines spotted it, and although it was only legal for the ships to be searched, German U-boats simply torpedoed the Lusitania, killing 128 Americans and over 1,000 passengers in total who were on the cruise ship. Although it is true that Germany sent a warning to America and Germany had suspicions supplies were hidden in the Lusitania (to help Britain).

Answer 5

The sinking of the Lusitania was important because first, it was during World War 1 and second, there were Americans on the British ship so the sinking caused the US to be angry.

Answer 6

The ship was a passenger vessel, which angered everyone, containing a few American citizens. This, combined with the plot for Mexico to attack, caused the United States to enter the war.